Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-21
THE RAILROAD QUESTION.
THE COMMISSIONERS PLAN.
ErilI Text of their Report - the senate
District Committee.

CF TRACXs-A PROPOSED LINE DOWN ELEVENTH
STREET EAsT-h UNION DEPOT IN SOUTH WASHING
ToS-TBE STREET RAILROADS. -
Following Is the text OF the reply prepared by
the District Commissioners to the request OF Sen
atOr Ingalls, subcommittee OF the Senate District
committee Tor information respecting railroads
and railroad routes In the District:
NOVEMBER Is.
Hon. JOHN J. INGALLS,, Chairman Sen. Com. ID. O.:
SIK: In response TO your letter OF March 9, 81,
rsIuesting the views OF the Commissioners OF the
District upon certain matters relating 10 steam
and street railway transport alton IN the Dlstrct
given the subject careful CONSIDERATION, and that
80 FAR as they have been able TO prepare Them
with the means available, the repl es TO the sew,
e-al interrOgatOres contained In your letter Will
b. found In this communication or In the appen-
ciseS thereto.
The questions touching the legal status OF the
Tp!t ny hOldi ngs and occupancy OF streets were
T. =. ed 10 the attorney for the District, whose
report clearly shows the involved condition OF the
matter, and will be found approximately exhaus-
tive OF the subject OF existing railway legislation
Capt Grin1n's report contains valuable ana inter,
esting facts as To the form OF rail and the general
subject OF street track construction, with such
additional data were prOcuraDle relative TO cost
OF laying and maintenance
The reports OF the assessor and special assess
ment division cover the Information desired as TO
the methods OF railway taxation, the amounts
torney likewise contains statements under this
head.
THE REMAINING QUESTIONS,
Ici6ti0R 10 lut anu UuSlncoS dSDCCto VI
the matter, involve consideration OF the existing
transportation lines and the facilities and def
ciencies thereof; the means OF increasing the
form er, anne nding the latter. and e1ecting more
equitable adjustment OF corporation and public
rapny OF the city and District, the natural ten
denotes OF trade and population toward the
op@en9 the he special needs Of the city
with reference 70 terminal facilities for passenger
and freight traffic, and the needs OF the General
In aft nfe
and from certain localities These questions are
answered by the Commissioners In accordance
with their best judgment and careful estimation
o. the important, complex, and In part, connect
Ing interests involved In seeking TO reach con-
clusion which should, on the whole, De considered
as satisfactory solution, the Commissioners have
been guided by a recognition OF the following
facts: Not only does the national capital derive
the Union but every citizen OF the United states
IA a tax payer therein and has a direct personal
interest In the local administration. IL occupies
the center OF a Web whence lines OF sympathy and
interest radlate 10 the farthest confines Oh the
country, 50 that what Is done mere y inat,er Vi
pected that the most enlightened Judgment and
the most advanced requirements OF CIVILIZATION
Will be displayed In the conduct OF It's AFFAIRS.
SPEEDY AND CONVENIENT LINES
Tho establishment and maintenance OF speedy
and convenient lines OF transportation, both inter-
nal and external, are an Indispensable concomi-
tant OF modern municipal life and especially need
ful in the District OF Columbia where the great
eral Government are centered which has rapidly
increasing resident population OF about 10000,
an immense boating population drawn htner Ia
pursuit OF business or pleasure In greater numbers
yeaI by year, and which Is to-day the nucleus OF
what Is destined TO be the most attractive and
wel0rdered city In the world, Win tnronging
population In the enjoyment OF more favorable |
conditions OF existence than are elsewhere pro- |
curaDet
IL IS proper and needful therefore, In consider |
ing so important matter as that OF Transports |
ton. involving large expenditures and the en- |
count the prospective development OF the city and
its inevitable future requirements, and TO exer |
permtte snail not Sai impair Valuable pubic in
terests awaiting Development
The existing means OF rail transportation OF both
kinds exhibit many Objectionable features and
serious defects. Prominent among these Is In the
case OF the steam railways, the occupancy OF nu-
merUus streets and manipulation OF grade cross
ings alike dangerous life and limb, destructive
OF property interests OF great value, lnmicai 10
private rights and opposed TO public policy. as IN
ern community, originally established when
Washington was an unkempt village OF
OF NO Importance save as the seat OF Government.
The railroads, more mindful, apparently, OF their
corporate interests Inan OF Inelr True enaracner
failed 10 adapt themselves 10 the growth and en-
larging interests OF the community, but have In
nism thereto BY an unlawful expansion OF their
buildings and the occupancy OF public space far
beyond their chartered rights and privileges.
THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO,
occupying the region north and east OF the Capt.
toll crosses Boundary street at two points about
$500 feet apart: one at the intersection with
New YORK avenue, between LIST and I'd streets
east the other, between 9th and 10th streets east
fncioses no less than thirty squares OF the city
between its two branches, which unite on Della
ware avenue, between + and G. and thence pene-
trates with the combined tracks 10 within two
squares OF the Capitol and maintains there an
anuquated and Inadequate passenger station
and ireight depot; rne lines within boundary oc-
frTIrfvl fn1ip al " a
nearly ali Of 1st street northeast, and consider
able portion OF i street and Delaware avenue,
all the streets between c and streets north, and
New Jersey avenue and 10th streets east includ-
ing such important avenues as North Capitol
street and Massachusetts, avenue.
In addition, the road has constructed track
crossing Delaware avenue and street, between
1St and ID for the purpose OF transferring from
one branch TO the other through freight and pas
senger trains, which have no business In washing
ton at all. and add only 10 the volume OF obstruc
tive traffic through the city and make Of 1t mere
way-station without corresponding benefit The
make up and reverse trains, because OF the absence
OF the proper means OF doing so.
The effect Of all this Is 10 partially isolate the
from It's due and natural communication with the
northwest, and practically prohibit that develop
menJ and improvement OF the northeast, for the
lack OF which IL suffers.
THE NORTHEAST As RESIDENCE SECTION
10 Is proper here 70 state some facts this con-
nectlOn. A large portion OF the resident popula-
tion OF Washington consists OF people of moderate
means employed In the Government Departments
and otherwise, TO whom the possession
Of agreeable homes at a moderate COST and with n
reasonable distance Of their places OF business is
necessity. The great advance in values through
out large portion OF the northwest Is yearly max
Ing such Possessions more difficult 10 procure in
thai region, and as typographical and other con-
trOng considerations, which IL Is not needful now
To eEumerate, discourage the building I'D OF the
greater part OF South Washington Tor the purpose
IL Is the ARIA est and north OF the Capitol TO
which u Is necessary 70 look Tor the needful ac-
cofnmOdatiOn- To this the Baltimore and Ohio
lines, as now maintained, are an insuper-
able obstacle People Will put themselves
10 much Inconvenience and expense to avoid the
peril 10 themselves or their families OF crossing a
steam railway track in leaving reaching their
homrs, and they Will shun the noise and incun-
yenirnce5 attendant upon a residence near the
line Of great railway, especially II the defects in
It's construction and management are such as 10
involve the constant shifting and making up OF
trains at all hours OF the day and night
For all these reasons extensive and desirable
areas IA the northeast are neglected and cOmpara-
lively valueless, Incapable OF improvement and
making no que return either 10 their owners or 10
the District treasury.
This brief statement OF the facts In the case
maks~ exhibit OF local cOuditlOns which could
hot D. tolerated In any portion OF modern cum-
munlty where mercantile and business considera-
tiOns did not predomnate 10 such an extent as TO
justify the retention OF the disadvantages for
the sake Of the profits: and IL Il needless to say
that In the case Of North and East Washington
ar y n adeu afet